Document 2193
 DOCN  M94A2193
 TI    The multi-sectorial AIDS prevention strategy in NE Thailand.
 DT    9412
 AU    Elkins DB; Rujkorakam D; Kuyyakanond T; Maticka-Tyndale E; Qld Inst of
       Med Res, Australia.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):36 (abstract no. 119D). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370382
 AB    OBJECTIVES: 1) to increase access & utilization of existing govt.
       programs operating in rural NE Thai communities and, 2) to develop
       culturally-tailored education & training programs specific to target
       populations in the community. METHODS: The Multi-sectorial AIDS
       Prevention Strategy (MAPS) is an action-oriented prevention program
       utilizing research-based media to raise awareness, promote evaluation of
       personal risk and provide practical and culturally sensitive options to
       reduce the risk of HIV to individuals and their community. Empowerment
       and sustainability of the program is established through training and
       coordinating the efforts of existing personnel and services from both
       government and NGO sectors, in first stimulating and then responding to
       requests for support for AIDS prevention activities from the communities
       they serve. Strategy implementation focuses on prevention activities
       identified during the MAPS process, all of which support existing
       government programs and focus on risks of AIDS as identified by the
       communities. RESULTS: After careful piloting of MAPS in 30 villages at
       the community- and subdistrict-level, six high priority activities were
       identified by communities in their fight against AIDS. However, although
       the perceived sources of risk were similar, emphasis in each
       sub-district differed. For example, in more urbanized sub-districts
       needle sterilization was emphasized with regard to drug use by youth. In
       contrast, a rural sub-district did not mentioned this, instead their
       concern focused on the traveling local healers which regularly give
       injections in the villages and don't properly sterilize their equipment.
       Some of the high priority activities consistently raised in the
       subdistricts are already part of government service, but the residents
       were unaware of their availability. In these cases, an important role of
       MAPS will be effective social marketing of already existing services and
       increased accessibility. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Based on
       preliminary results, MAPS balances the need for personalized messages
       and participatory action with the potential for large-scale coverage.
       Implementation at the district-level is currently underway in 4
       provinces in over 350 communities with the aim of expanding the program
       to over 1 million people in 1994.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Health
       Services Accessibility  Human  Marketing of Health Services  Preventive
       Health Services/ORGANIZATION & ADMIN/*SUPPLY &  DISTRIBUTION  Risk
       Factors  Thailand  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).